Improvement in lawn-mowers



l.-, C. '& C. l. STURGEUN.

. Lawn-Mowers. NO 148 26()I Patented March 3.1874.

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STATES PATENT @Prion J OIIN O. STURGEON AND CARSON J. STURGEON, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LAWN-MOWERS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,260, dated March 3, 1874; application filed October 16, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, JOHN C. STURGEON and CARSON J. STURGEON, of the city and county of Erie, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn-Mowers and Harvesters, of which the following is a specication:

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of the operative mechanism of a lawn-mower, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out by the claims.

Figure l is a plan view of an improved lawnmower or harvester. Fig. 2 is a face view of the end of one of the driving-Wheels, with portions of the face of the Wheel broken away, showing the relative positions of the iixed inside spur-gearin g and frame, the loose traveling spur-pinions, the central ratchet spur-pinions, and the driving-Wheels, and portions of the inside face of theinside spur-gearingbroken away show the revolving cutter beyond. Fig. 3 is a vieuT of the edge of one end of the niachine as seen from the under side, and also the relative positions of the driving-Wheels, the frame and xed inside spur-gearing, and slots for stationary cutter.

In this machine two driving-wheels, A A, are mounted upon the main shaft of the machine, C, so as to sustain the entire Weight of the machine upon them. The shaft O is common to both the revolving cutter D D D and the driving-Wheels A A, the drivingwheels A A turning` loosely upon said shaft O, and by means of the fixed inside spur-geared Wheels .B B, the loose spur-pinions L L, and ratchet spur-pinions J J, the driving-Wheels Acommunicate motion to the horizontal revolving cutter D, the Working part of the machine. In constructing this machine, two fixed inside spur-geared wheels, B B, are cast so as to iit snugly into iianges a, cast on the driving- Wheels A A for that purpose, the fixed geared WheelsB B not fitting tight enough to prevent the drivin g-Wheels from turning freely around them, but tight enough to exclude dust, dirt, and gritfrom the gearing. The fixed inside spurgeared WheelsBB are cast With ribs or anges b b on their inside faces, which project sufficiently to cover the ends of the revolving cutterblades F F F, and prevent grass and other obstructions from Windin g around the ends of the shaft C; and on the under side of the fixed Wheels B B adjusting-slots G G are cast, either separately or as part of the ilan ges or ribs b b. In the latter case the iianges b b are extended and enlarged sufficiently to form the said adjusting-slots G Gr, upon which the stationary cutter-bar E is fastened by means of the set-screws H H, so that the stationary cutter-bar E can be raised and lowered to alter the height of the cut. The said fixed inside spur-geared Wheels B' B also have boxes or bearings in their centers to receive the shaft O of the revolving cutter. The handle R is divided into two arms, It R', and may be fastened to the inside faces of the said fixed inside geared Wheels B B, it may be, by means of set-screws, in such a manner that the handle R may be raised and lowered to suit the operator; and the said geared Wheels B B are also connected together, at suitable distance apart, by means of rods Q Q and the stationary cutter-bar E, thereby forming a strong and compact frame for the machine.

The driving-Wheels A A are cast with an in- Wardly-projecting flange, a, projecting over and covering the xed inside geared Wheels B B, and thereby forming suitable treads for the Wheels, and also With fixed pins or bearings M, at suitable distances from the centers of drivin g-Wheels A A, to receive and support the loose traveling spur-pinions L L, meshing into the inside spur-co gs I I of the fixed geared Wheels B B, and also into the ratchet spur-pinions J J on the main shaft, thereby imparting motion tothe revolving cutter D D D, the driving-Wheels A A turning loosely on the ends of the main shaft of the revolving cutter C, or on a common axis or center With the same.

The cutting apparatus of this machine consists of a spiral cutter, D D D, with blades F F F, keyed or otherwise fastened on the shaft G, and rotating over the edge of the stationary cutter-bar F, forming a shear, and cutting 011' the grass as the blades F F F pass it.

The shaft C passes through the boxes or bearings in the centers of the endsB B of the geared frame, and carries the ratchet spur-pinions J J, which mesh into the loose spur-pinions LL, attached to the driving-Wheels AA, and also carries the driving-wheels A A upon its ends.

The gearing of this improved machine iS made up of the fixed geared wheels B B, constituting the ends of the frame, having boxes or bearings in their centers to receive the shaft C, and inside spur-gearing I I, (see Figs. 2 and 8,) in combination with the loose traveling spurpinions L L, turning on the pins or bearings M M, fixed in the driving-Wheels AA, and the ratchet spur-pinions J J on the central shaft C. The loose traveling spur-pinions L L, meshing into both the fixed inside spur-gearing I I and the ratchet spur-pinions J J, and the driving-Wheels A A, carrying around the traveling spur-pinions L L, impart the motion of the driving-wheels A A to the revolving cutter D D D, and the central spur-pinions J J, being provided With paWls O, which, when the machine is moved forward, catch in the ratchets P in the main shaft C, and when the machine is backed pass over the ratchet P, allowing the revolving cutter D to remain at rest.

In operation, the operator seizes the handle R and pushes the machine before him, and the rotary cutters F F F, working against the stationary cutter E, shear ofi' the grass.

zontal revolving cutter journaled in boxes or.

bearing in centers of said fixed inside geared Wheels B B, stationary cutter-bar mounted directly 0n said fixed Wheels B B, and with loose driving-Wheels, carrying loose spur-pinions,

mounted directlT on the shaft of the revolving cutter, or on a common axis or center with said cutter.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto suh- A scribed our names.

JOHN C. STURGEON. CARSON J. STURGEON.

IVitncsses:

J. C. JOHNSON, HENRY MURPHY. 

